Method of and apparatus for finishing garments



May 26, 1942. .1. H. RICHA 2,284,232

7 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING GARMENTS Filed Jan. 2, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 1 l2 jig. I.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 26, 1942. JQH. RICHA 2,284,232

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING GARMENTS Filed Jan. 2, 1940 I 4Shets-Sheet- 2 neunw I I I) ll l/AL; I 12' \\i I i i 45 6/ j 16 I a? J,i 72/ L69 g 0 j.

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F/h/I'ihed May 26, 1942. J. H. RICHA 2,284,232

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FINISHING GARMENTS Filed Jan. 2, 1940 1 4Sheets-Sheet s J. H. RlcHA I May 26, 1942.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FQRFINISHING GARMENTS Filed Jan. 2, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 4 I ll] ml INVENTOR :{o/l l7. Flt/fa.

ATToRbiEY the outer form removed.

Patented May 26, 1942 UNITED STAT ES. PATENT ame METHOD o'F ANDAPPARATUS FOR, rmrsrnnc GARMENTS John H. Bicha, Kansas City, Mo.,assignor of onehalf to Charles B. Jones, Kansas City, Mo.

Application January 2, 1940, Serial No. 311,981

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for finishing fabricarticles such as clothing and the like, and has for its principal objectto provide for finishing such articles with a minimum number of lays.For example,'it is the usual practice to finish coats, after they havebeen cleaned, on bucks of steam pressing ma chines, and many lays of thegarment are required to complete the steaming and pressing operation.With the present invention a garment of this character may be completelyfinished in a single operation, and which results in an exteriorbag-like form arranged to-cooperate with the interior bag for pressingthe fabric of a garment therebetween.

It is also an object of the invention to provide mechanism to preventbelling of the edges of a garment incidental to inflation.

'In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, ashereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of structure,the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective viewof a'garment finishing apparatus constructedin accordance with my invention, the particular apparatus illustratedbeing adapted for finishing coats and like garments, a part of which isbroken away to show the clamp for retaining the lower front of a coat toprevent spreading thereof.

Fig. 2.is a vertical section through the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a section through the inner form at right angles to thesection shown in Fig. 2 with Fig. 4 is .a horizontal section on the line4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged diagrammatic view showing a portion of a garmentengaged between the inflatable bag portions of the apparatus.

Fg. 6 isa detail perspective view of the outer inflatable form with. thesections thereof in spaced condition.

Fig. 7 is 'a frag entary view from the oppo! the casing by a motor 23,also supported on the site side of-the outer form, particularlyillustrating the adjustable hinge connections of the sections.

Fig; 8 is va horizontal section through the outer inflatable form.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a finishing apparatus embodying thefeatures of the present invention, especially designed for finishing theupper portion of a pair of trousers.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of an outer inflatable form for theapparatus shown in Fig.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10, showing a pair of trousers appliedto the inflatable bag.

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section through the inflatable form illustratedin Fig. 11.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

i designates a finishing apparatus constructed in accordance with thepresent invention and with which I am able to practice my improved.method of finishing fabric garments and similar articles.

The apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 includes a cabinet-like housing 2,including a front wall 3, side walls 4. and 5, atop 6, and a rearwall 1. Projecting from the upper portion of .the front wall 3, at thetop thereof, is an extension 8,

having sides 9 and ill which may be formed as extensions of the sidewalls 4 and 5, a front H, a topr'l2 coextensive with the top 6, and anunder side l3 spaced below the top l2 to form an opening it above thewall 3.

The cabinet thus described forms a' compartment for housing the workingparts of the apparatus, and the extension provides a support forsuspending the garment supporting appliances therefrom, as laterdescribed.

Supported in the body of the cabinet, at a point below the opening M, isa bracket l5 mounting a. blower l6, including a casing l'l having an airinlet 98 in aside thereof an'da dis-' charge outlet l9 terminating in acollar 20 to which an L-shaped duct 2| is connected. The blower alsoincludes a rotor 22 that is operable in bracket and having its armatureconnected with the rotor on the side of the casing opposite the airinlet opening I8 so that air is drawn into the cabinet through ascreened opening in the front wall, through the inlet opening of theblower casing, and discharged through the L'- shaped duct 2|. The duct2| has its outlet end turned downwardly and extends through an opening25 provided in the under part iii of the cabinet extension, the ductbeing secured in position by fastening devices 25 extending through aflange 21 thereon and connected with the part In order that thecirculated air may be heated,

The garment supporting appliance consists of an inflatable form 31,which, in some instances, may be used in conjunction with an outer,inflatable form 88. The inflatable form 31 is swivelly suspended fromthe collar 35 and substantially conforms in shape to the article to beflnished, for example a coat, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive.The form 31 is preferably exthe air inlet opening I8 is covered by aheating tain pressure therein when the steam and/ or air is passedtherethrough. qThe weaving, however,

is sufliciently open to permit restricted discharge of the steam and/or.air through the meshes thereof for treating and softening the fabric ofthe coat, or other garment as the case may be, while maintainingballooning action of the steam and/or air to restore the coat to itsoriginal shape and effect cure of the fabric thereof.

The bottom portion of the bag extends below the perforated form, as at58, and is looped inwardly, as at 59, to 'connect with a closure plate10, the closure plate 10 being adjustably mounted on the rod 52 so as tovary the length of the bag in accordance with the length of the coat,the plate being adjusted so that the loop tensible and thereforeincludes a pair of adjustable sections 39 and 40 having side portions 4|and 42 conforming to the sides of a garment to be placed on the form andthe upper portions of the sections terminate in shoulder portions 43 and44. The lower ends of the sections are closed by plates 45 and 45. Thefacing sides of the sections are open and have side edges 41 and 45arranged to telescope within a central section 49 comprising asubstantially rectangular frame having front and back plate portions505| forming connecting continuations of the sides 41 and 48, a bottomportion 52 corresponding to the bottom plates 45 and 45 of 'the sidesections, and an upper portion 53 having a tubular neck 54 terminatingin a flange 55 that is sleeved over the collar 35 and swivelly securedthereto by set-screws 55, the set-screws 55 being threaded in the flangeand having their ends engaged in the annular groove 35 as clearly shownin Fig. 3. The side edges of the. side sections are thus adapted totelescope'within the central section to adjust the form for width, asnow to be described.

Connecting the side edges ,41 and 48 of the side sections are brackets51 and 58 having upwardly converging web portions 59 and 50 beportion 59terminates approximately at the. edge of the coat as shown in Fig. 3.The plate is secured in adjusted position by a set-screw .or similarfastening device 1| threaded in the sleeve 12 through which the rod 82is passed. Fixed .to the bag and preferably attached circumferentiallyof arm openings 13 and 14 are similar bags 15 and 15 substantiallyconforming in shape to the shoulder portion of the garment at thesleeves and which extend downwardly therein so that a portion of the airand/or steam is discharged therein to balloon the sleeves and shouldersthereof to their normal shape.

Steam is supplied to the interior of the form through a nozzle 11 thatis connected with a pipe 18 extending from a control valve that.

is fixed to the separator 33', upwardly through the cabinet, laterallyinto the extension, and through an opening 85 in the L-shaped duct 2| toterminate in a depending leg 8| carrying the nozzle 11. The valve 19 hasan actuating lever 82 adapted to be operated by a flexible connection 83witha foot pedal or the like (not shown).

When the outer form 38 is used, it is suspended from a track 84 that isattached to the under side |3 o'f thecabinet extension and to the rearof the inflatable form just described- The outer form 38 includes a backsection 85 and side sections 85 tween which is slidably mounted a hollowwedge tral section. The sections are interconnected and 81 thatareadjustably hinged thereto to conform to the variable width of the innerform. The adjustable hinge connections include straps 85 fixed to theside sections and having slots 89 engaging fastening devices 99 anchoredin the back section 85, the straps being adjustably clamped to thecentral section by wing nuts 9| as shownin Figs. 7 and 8. The sidesections are curved to substantially conform to the sides of the garmentand are secured at the front by a clasp 92 of any's'uitable design. Theinterior face of the side sections, as well as the back section 85, is

' provided'with a flexible bag-like covering which by springs 54 and 55which have their ends'secured to the brackets 51 and 58. The wallsforming the side and central sections of the is constructed of amaterial permeable to a fluid medium, such as the air discharged by theblower and/or steam, and the material is preferably a fabric woven withsuflicient tightness to provide limited permeability for effectingballooning or distention thereof and maintenance of a cermay be a, wovenfabric and which, when inflated, cooperates with the inner bag to pressthe garment therebetween. A pressure medium such as air is admitted tothe chambers of the outer section through connections as indicated at 93(Fig. 8) When the outer form is used the sleeves of the garment areextended through shoulder openings 94 and 95 therein. In themodification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 9 the form 95 is notextensible,.however,

' the shoulder or arm-portions 91 which carry sleeve expanding bags 98are adjustable to vary the width of the shoulder portionof the garment.This is eifected by providing a T-shaped fitting 99 having a branch I50engageable in the neck portion I" of the form and having laterallydiverging branches I02 and'ili3 on which tubular eiitensions I04 and I05are telesco'pingly mounted.

The tubular extensions in this instance carry the bags 98 which extendvthe sleeve and shoulder portions of the garment? to their original form.

The Tefltting and tubular extensions are perforated so that steam andair delivered through the nozzle H16 are passed through the perforationsto the interior of the form.

In Figs. 10 to12 inclusive is shown a flexible "bag-like form forsimultaneously finishing the waist, seat, and thigh portions of a pairof trousers or similar bifurcated garment. In this instance the outerform may be omitted and the bag I! is attached directly to a fitting I08that is swivelly suspended from the collar of the L- shaped duct-2l. Thebag includes leg portions I09 andllll having closed ends and which aresubstantially larger in size than the largest garment to be finished.This bag is also constructed of fabric having limited permeability andis of the Y material described in connection with the bags of ance withthat illustrated in Figs. 1 to inclusive,

the coat is applied over the bag covering of the inner form, with thebag in collapsed condition, and the front lower corners of the coat areclamped together by a suitable clamp as indicated at N5, the arm bags ESand it being extended through the armholes of the sleeves. The width ofthe form is extended to conform to the size of the coat by manipulationof the wedge ti. Steam isthen admitted into the bag of the formuponopening the valve 19 so that the pressure inflates or balloons the bagand fills out all portions of the garment to their original shape.Simultaneously with inflation the steam permeates through the meshes ofthe bag and through the fabric of the garment, softening the fibers sothat the garment is readily returned to its original shape by theballooning effect of the bag. After shutting off the steam, heated airis admitted to the interior of the form upon openng of a valve H6 in theair duct and starting operation of the blower. The supply of 'air iscontinued to maintain the inflati'n or ballooning of the bag be appliedover the garment as shown in Fig. 1,'

the sleeves of the garments and arm bags being extended through theshoulder openings of the outer form as shown. Air may then "be admittedto inflate the bags of the outer form so that the pressure thereof actsagainst the outer surface of the coat in cooperation with the pressureof the inner bag on the inner surface of the coat. When the heated airis discharged through the bag, the suction of the inlet of the bloweracting on the air in the cabinet draws the heated air through thescreened opening 24 and this air is recirculated through the garment.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 9 operates in the same manner asthe preferred form except that the adjustment is made across theshoulder by manipulating the extension tubes carrying the arm bags.

To finish a pair of trousers on the form of the invention shown in Figs.10 to 13 inclusive, the trousers are applied to the bag Ill'l while itis in collapsed condition,- after flwhich air and/or steam are admittedto inflate the bag within the trousers. Upon admission of steam thefabric of the trousers is softened so that they 'are returned to theiroriginal shape by the ballooning action of the bag. Air is dischargedinto and through the meshes of the bag to maintain distention and effectcuring of the trousers while retained in their original shape. Ifdesired, the

outer form shown in Fig. 7 may be applied over the trousers to press theouter surfaces thereof upon inflation of the bags H3 and H5.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a simple andinexpensive method of finishing garments, and that the garments. may beprocessed with minimum operations. It is also obvious that the inflatedbags adjust themselves into all portions of the garment so that partsthereof are finished that cannot be reached or effected on ordinarypressing equipment.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: g I

1. The method of finishing a fabric garment including, clothing thegarment upon an in flatable and permeable bag while the bag .isjn

deflated condition, distending the garment to its normal shape byinflating the bag with a pressure medium, simultaneously subjecting thefabric of the garment to the inflating medium by permeation of theinflating medium "through the bag into contact with the garment,and'applying pressure to the exterior of the garment.

2. The method of finishing a fabric garment including, clothing thegarment upon an inflatable and permeable bag while-the bag is in de'.flated condition, distending the garment to its normal shape byinflating the bag with steam, simultaneously softening the fabric of thegarment with steam permeating through the bag into contact with thegarment, and pressing the exterior of the garment with an inflatable bagenveloping the garment and inflated there against.

flated condition, distending the garment to its 'normalshape byinflating the bag, moistening the garment, maintaining distention of themoistened garment by the bag, pressing the exterior of the garment withan inflatable bag enveloping the garment and inflated thereagainst whilethe bag, is; distended on the permeable bag, and drying the garmentbetween said bags by permeating the inflatingv medium through thepermeable bag into contact with the garment.

4. The method of, finishing afabric garment including, clothing thegarment upon an inflatable and permeable bag while the bag is'indeflated condition, distending the garment to its normal shape byinflating the bag with steam, simultaneously softening the fabric ofthe'garment with steam permeating through the bag into contact with thegarment, pressing the exterior of the garment with an inflatable bagenveloping the garment and inflated'thereagainst, suspending flow of thesteam, maintaining distention of the garment within said envelopinginflating air through the permeable bag into contact with the garment.

5. The method of finishing a fabric garment including, clothing thegarment upon an inflatable and permeable bag while the bag is in deofthe bags into contact with the garment, suspending flow of the steam,maintaining distention of the garment between said bags by introductionof hot air into the bag to whichthe steam was admitted, and drying thegarment while maintained between said bags by permeating the hotinflating air through said bag into contact with the garment.

6. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character describedincluding, a support, a fluid medium inlet connection depending on thesupport, a flexible bag adapted to be distendable within a garmentclothed thereon in response to pressure of a fluid medium, meanssuspending the bag from said connection, and means for introducing thefluid medium into the bag through said inlet connection for ballooningthe bag to the expanded shape of the garment, said bag having apermeable body portion for dischargin the fluid medium throughthe'garment clothed thereon for conditioning the fabric of the garmentsimultaneously with expansion of the garment.

7. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character describedincluding, a perforated form, a flexible bag loosely enveloping the formand adapted to be distendable within a garment clothed thereon inresponse to pressure of a fluid medium, and means for introducing thefluid medium into the form for discharge into the bag through saidperforations for ballooning the bag 8. Apparatus for finishing garmentsof the character described including, a support having f a dependingfluid medium inlet connection,-a perforated form suspended from saidinlet con-' nection, a flexible bag loosely enveloping the form andadapted to be distendable within a garment clothed thereon in responseto pressure of a fluid medium, and means for introducing the fluidmedium into the form through said inlet connection for discharge intothe bag through said perforations for ballooning the bag about adaptedto be distendable within a garment -clothed. thereon in response topressure ofa fluid medium, means for introducing the fluid medium intothe bag for ballooning the bag to the expanded shape of the garment, anouter flexible and inflatable bag adapted to envelopthe garment, andmeans for admitting aninfiating medium into the outer bag, one of saidbags having a permeable portion for discharging the inflating mediumthrough the garment for conditioning the fabric of the garment whilemaintaining expansion of the garment.

10. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character describedincluding, a flexible bag adapted to be distendable within a garmentclothed thereon in response topressure of a fluid medium, means forintroducing the fluid medium into the bag for ballooning the bag to theexpanded shape of the garment, said bag having a permeable body portionfor, discharging the fluid medium through the garment clothed thereonfor conditioning the fabric of the garment simultaneously with expansionof the garment, an outer inflatable bag adapted to envelop the garmentwhile contained on said permeable bag, and means connected with theouter bag for introducing a pressure medium into said outer bag.

11 Apparatus for finishing garments of the character describedincluding, a perforated form, a flexible bag loosely enveloping the formand adapted to be distendable within a garment clothed thereon inresponse to pressure of a fluid medium, means for introducing the fluidmedium into the form for discharge into the bag through saidperforations for ballooning the bag about the form to the expanded shapeof the garment, said bag having a permeable body portion for dischargingthe fluid medium through the garment clothed thereon for conditioningthe fabric of the garment simultaneously with expansion of the garment,an outer form adapted to close over the extended garment while clothedon said bag, a flexible bag lining the outer form and adapted to bedistended against the garment by pressure of a fluid medium, and meansfor introducing a pressure medium into the bag lining the outer form. I

12. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character describedincluding, a perforated inner form, a flexible bag loosely envelopingthe'inner form and adapted to be distended to the natural shape of agarment clothed thereon, an outer form, and a flexible bag looselylining the outer form and adapted to be distended against the garment bya fluid pressure medium, one of said bags having a permeable portion fordischarging the fluid medium through the garment for conditioning thefabric of the garment simultaneously with pressing of the garmentbetween said bags.

13. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character describedincluding, an inner form comprising a pair of perforated sectionsarranged to beadjusted to and from each other, a flexible and permeablebag loosely enveloping the inner form and adapted to be distended to thenatural shape of 'a garment clothed thereon, an outer form comprising apair of sections, adjustable hinge means connecting the sections toadjust said sections to close over the inner form, flexible bags looselylining'the sections of the outer form and adapted to be distendedagainst the garment by a fluid pressure medium, and means fordischarging fluid medium into the bags to press the garment between saidbags and condition the fabric of the garment by the fluid mediumdischarged through the permeable bag.

14. An apparatus for finishing garments of the character describedincluding, a form, a flexible bag loosely enveloping the form andadapted to be distendable within a garment clothed thereon in responseto pressure of a fluid medium, shoulder sections having movable supporton the form, sleeve expanding bags'carried on the shouldcr sections andcooperating with portions of the bag to distend the shoulder portions ofthe garment, and means for introducing the fluid medium into the bag andinto the sleeve expanding bags, said first named bag having a permeableportion for discharging the fluid medium into the garment clothedthereon and for conditioning the fabric of the garment simultaneouslywith distention of the garment.

15. An apparatus for finishing garments of the character describedincluding, a form, a flexible bag loosely enveloping the form andadapted to be distendable within a garment clothed thereon in responseto pressure of a fluid medium,

shoulder sections having movable support on the ,form, sleeve expandingbags carried on the shoulpanding bags, said bags having permeableportionsfor discharging the fluid medium into the garment clothedthereon and for conditioning the fabric of the garment simultaneouslywith distention of the garment.

16. Apparatus for finishing garments of the character describedincluding, a form having the general shape 0 a torso, a flexible bagloosely enveloping the form and adapted to be distendable within agarment clothed thereon in response to pressure of a fluid medium, saidbag having a permeable body portion for discharging the fluidmedlumthrough the garment clothed thereon for conditioning the fabric ofthe garment, means for introducing a fluid inflating and conditioningmedium into the bag, and means,

exterior of the bagfor engaging the outer surface of the garment tocontrol expansion of the garment responsive to inflation of the bag.

JOHN H. RICHA.

